Netball: Fowler-Reid tight-lipped about future

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid of the Steel shoots at goal. Photo / Photosport

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid has given nothing away about her future.

The Southern Steel's ace goal shoot is coming off yet another dominant season, which culminated in an ANZ Premiership title on Wednesday night.

She scored 56 of the Steel's goals, which proved more than enough to deal to the Central Pulse in a 69-53 win.

Scoring 790 goals overall, while shooting at 92%, she proved too big, strong and athletic to stop getting good position all season.

When she missed, more often than not she would pull in the rebound and finish on the second chance.

Getting her back after the breakup of the old transtasman league was never a given.

But sign she did and her signature proved arguably the most important in putting together this year's squad.

While the Steel has shown its class right across the court, it is hard to imagine there is one player more sought after from this premiership.

But the 1.98m shooter, who is also studying for a bachelor's degree in guidance and counselling, remained tight-lipped after the final.

"After this I head back home to Jamaica and probably play a few games with them and back into school and we'll see what happens after that."

She would not go into more detail when pressed.

"Well yeah there is plans for my future, of course, but yep, that's about it."

The win was special for Fowler-Reid, who has played for the Steel since 2013.

She had won the ANZ Chamionship's most valuable player award three times in that period and been part of the 2016 unbeaten regular season.

However, she had never won a title and its ability to finish was what made this team so special.

"I've been in this team for the past five years. I've been reminding the girls I've been here since I was 23.

"It's been really good to come out [on Wednesday] and play like we did.

"So it was just amazing. I don't have enough words to explain how great it is and how I feel personally.

"The thing about this team is that we have the finish and that's what I'm proud of with us.

"We can go all the way and go to the end really good, so that helped me to get confidence to know we're going to finish and finish really good."

Thirty-two-year-old captain Wendy Frew is another yet to make a decision about her future, although hinted she would be back.

Having played for the Steel since its inception in 2008, she is by far and away its most experienced player.

Prior to that she spent six seasons with the now-defunct Southern Sting.

"Honestly, I've just put all my energy the last few weeks into getting back into the final," Frew said, referring to having missed two games due to injuries suffered in a van accident.

"So we'll sit down and address things the next few weeks.

"Obviously, we've got super club to look forward to and then make some decisions.

"So I'm still enjoying the netball and just loving it so, hopefully, we'll have another crack."

By Jeff Cheshire of the Otago Daily Times